Hey yal! This is my first CSI: Miami/DuCaine story. If you don't like it then you can stop right here :)
I feel like they have been growing farther and farther apart, and it was proof by the season finale.
This story is based loosely off of the episode Power Trip, well, okay, just the character.
I do not own the characters or the show, if I did...Horatio and Calleigh would be together, Eric wouldn't be with her...and I wouldn't be sitting here writing this.
Hope yal like it, and flames will be used to roast marshmellows :)
Sorry it is so short, I promise the next one will be longer :)
so sit back, relax, and enjoy
ps- yes, the perspectives do change in this chapter, the italicized parts are in the first person
It was quite when Horatio walked into the locker room at the end of shift…okay, a few hours after shift. He has developed a habit over the years of going home really late, mostly because all he would come home to was silence. He didn't expect anyone else to be in there so he was quite shocked to find his ballistics expert standing there next to her locker, just staring at nothing. He watched her for about a minute before approaching her.
"Calleigh, Calleigh?" His gentle voice seemed to snap her out of her trance. "Horatio…um…hi, what are you doing here?" She asked and he just smiled, "I could ask you the same thing." She sheepishly smiled, "Yeah, I know, I guess I lost track of time." He simply nodded his head. "Is everything alright? You seemed to be staring at nothing." She didn't look straight into his eyes because she knew one look and she would break down. "Yeah, sorry, I am fine, really." She added the last part because she saw him shift from one side to the other. He just smirked, "Famous Duquesne words." "I could say the same thing about you." He just smiled at that, "Calleigh, I know we haven't been close since…." His voice filtered out when she turned away so he quickly took a different approach. He took a step closer and touched her shoulder, "I know that something is bothering you, I can tell, and everyone else is just looking out for you." She looked into his blue eyes and saw something she couldn't quite make out. She sighed and sat down on the bench. "Yeah, well, I ran into Reggie earlier today in the elevator," He took a seat next to her, allowing her space while at the same time close enough to touch. She took a deep breath and continued.
"Hey Reg" I offer, seeing him as I enter the elevator, He nods towards me , "Officer Duquesne." "What are you doing here?" I know that we were working on a case that involved him, but I have never seen him in the building. He just shrugs his shoulder and asks me about the case. I look at him expectantly, then I give a sigh, "You know I can't talk about the case, it's protocol."
"Something flashed in his eyes, but I put it off as nothing, if only…" Horatio quickly grabs her hand, surprising the both of them, "Calleigh, no, do not even think of finishing that thought, you did nothing wrong." She smiled, "Horatio, let me finish will ya?" He smiled sheepishly and nodded, he, however, did not let go of her hand.
"You CSI's love your protocol. Prance around here in your perfect white lab coat, acting like you know every damn thing. But sometimes police work ain't clean." The tone in his voice changed as the last statement came out, giving me an eerie feeling, "I think I'll stick with what works for me." My comment obviously hit a nerve because Reggie shuts off the elevator and walks towards me, backing me up in a corner. "What works for you? While you're taking your sweet time looking for more evidence Paulson is out there walking free and easy. Now who's to say he's going to stop these killings? Is that what you want? More innocent girls to die?"'By this point, I do not like where this is going so I move my hand towards my weapon'
"Step away from me, Reggie." He doesn't comply with what I was asking so I unsnap my holster. When that doesn't make him back away, I goes to cock it and pull it out, luckily the elevators open and he walks out. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, but Reggie then suddenly turns back around and stops the elevator doors from closing, "Ask yourself something, Detective. How would you feel if you had to stare a murderer in the eye and let him walk away? You try getting to sleep after knowing something like that."
Her voice faded out and she looks down at their now intertwined hands. Horatio was quite for a minute, trying to process it all. He then turns his head towards Calleigh, "Sweetheart, I am so sorry." She smiled, "It is okay, it really was not your fault, and I feel better getting it off my chest, really." His blue eyes met her green ones, "Well, why don't we get out of here and let me walk you to your car?" She smiled and nodded her head, reluctantly taking her hand out of his. She grabbed her things out of her locker and followed Horatio out of the locker room. As they got closer to the elevator Calleigh slowed down, what happened earlier that day replayed in her mind. Horatio noticed and turned around, "Calleigh, do you want to take the stairs?" She smiled, leave it to Horatio to know her so well. "No, it is okay, I shouldn't be afraid of an elevator, so I am okay, let us just go." He looked skeptical but didn't want to push it so he nodded and followed her into the elevator. The ride down was a quite one, the elevator bell rang and they exited and Horatio walked her to her car. "Are you going to be alright going home or would you like me to follow you?" She smiled sweetly at him, "I am okay Horatio, really." He chuckled, "Okay then, at least do this old man a favor and call me when you get home, please?" She just laughed, "You are not old Horatio however, yes, I will call you when I get home, if it makes you feel better." "Thank you Calleigh." "No problem old man." She sent a wink before she got into her car. That woman is going to be the death of me I swear. He got into his own car and drove home, waiting for Calleigh's call.
He was making coffee when his cell phone went off. He looked at his caller id, Calleigh, "Caine" "Horatio…..Horatio" Calleigh's frantic voice was heard over the receiver. Horatio grabs his keys off the table and heads to the door. "Calleigh, Calleigh, sweetheart, calm down, what happened?" Horatio turns on his car and starts to head towards Calleigh's house. "Horatio….my house….it's….it's…..Horatio, hurry, please." He stepped on the gas, "Stay with me Calleigh, I am on my way."